Universe Sandbox

Universe Sandbox Legacy => Universe Sandbox Legacy | Discussion => Topic started by: APODman on October 09, 2013, 03:57:21 PM

Title: Simulation of the Juno Spacecraft flyby today !
Post by: APODman on October 09, 2013, 03:57:21 PM

Launched in 2011, and after a complete orbit around the Sun, in a few hours the Juno spacecraft will approach Earth at a mere 500km altitude to perform a "gravitational slingshot" maneuver to gain impulse for the final journey to the planet Jupiter in which it will enter into polar orbit.

I performed a simulation in US of the final moments of the spacecraft approaching, apparently the program does successfully simulate its "orbital bend". I not tested yet but I'm curious to know if it will reach Jupiter.

(http://s23.postimg.org/m0gjf3srd/Universe_Sandbox_20131009_195406_70357.png)


The flyby of Juno can be followed live online in 2 hours and 49 minutes, the passage will have narration Brian Cox. A must see event !


- http://events.slooh.com/stadium/juno-flies-earth (http://events.slooh.com/stadium/juno-flies-earth)


More information about Juno flyby in:
- http://www.space.com/23120-jupiter-juno-spacecraft-earth-flyby-explained.html (http://www.space.com/23120-jupiter-juno-spacecraft-earth-flyby-explained.html)
- http://www.universetoday.com/105228/juno-careening-to-earth-for-critical-flyby-boost-and-cool-movie-making-on-oct-9-watch-slooh-live/ (http://www.universetoday.com/105228/juno-careening-to-earth-for-critical-flyby-boost-and-cool-movie-making-on-oct-9-watch-slooh-live/)


(Planetary and Spacecraft data of simulation from JPL Horizons)


Regards !

Title: Re: Simulation of the Juno Spacecraft flyby today !
Post by: APODman on October 10, 2013, 07:12:03 AM

Fantastic ! Running the simulation for a little over 2.7 years Juno Spacecraft reaches Jupiter at exactly angle to an insert in a polar orbit, exactly as planned and presented by NASA simulations.

Obviously it was not possible to capture Juno in orbit of Jupiter since this process will involve a series of maneuvers guided from Earth (which could even be partially simulated but do not know the exact values ​​of timing and velocity change needed)

But once again the Universe Sandbox proved surprisingly accurate, congratulations Dan Dixon, that version 3.0 maintains this level of quality and precision!

(http://s10.postimg.org/4a1hklfco/Universe_Sandbox_20131010_100302_216577.jpg)

(http://s16.postimg.org/r033o9ww4/Universe_Sandbox_20131010_100257_216544.jpg)


The simulation file of the final approach of Juno with Jupiter are attached in this post.

To compare:
http://missionjuno.swri.edu/orbit?quality=low&show=hs_orbit_story_polar-orbit (http://missionjuno.swri.edu/orbit?quality=low&show=hs_orbit_story_polar-orbit)


Regards !